Yo tengo un carro nuevo – I have a new carTú tienes mucho tiempo – You have a lot of time¿Usted tiene dolor de cabeza? – Do you have a headache?Ella tiene las fotos – She has the photos.Nosotros no tenemos dinero – We don’t have moneyEllos tienen flores – They have flowers

'Tener' is also used in some situations where in English we would use ‘to be’ not ‘to have’, for example:

Tengo veinte años – I am 20 years old (lit. I have 20 years)¿Tienes frío? – Are you cold? (lit. You have cold?)Ella tiene hambre – She is hungry (lit. She has hunger) Tenemos sed – We are thirstyEllos tienen calor – They are hotEllas tienen razón – They are right (lit. They have reason)

Tengo que salir pronto – I have to leave soonTienes que firmar aquí – You have to sign hereUsted tiene que esperar – You have to waitElla tiene que trabajar todo el día – She has to work all dayTenemos que comer – We have to eatEllos tienen que estar juntos – They have to be together

Note: The verb ‘haber’ is used mainly to change sentences to the past tense so we will cover the complete conjugation in the section on the past tense. The verb is however used in one form in the present tense as shown below. In this form, the verb ‘haber’ can be used similar to ‘tener’, indicating that it is necessary to do something, for example:

Hay que salir mañana – It is necessary to leave tomorrowHay que terminar esto ahora – This needs to be finished now

Debo tomar la medicina – I must take the medicineDebes tomar un taxi – You must take a taxiElla debe llegar temprano – She must arrive earlyDebemos comer más verduras – We must eat more vegetablesEllos deben cambiarse de ropa – The must change clothes